Centering device for necktie linings



Sept. 26, 1950 A. J. FIUMEDORO CENTERING DEVICE FOR uncmm mums 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 3, 1947 Sept. 26, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec, 3, 194"! Patented Sept. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Ali J. Fiumedoro, Boston, Mass., assignor of onehalf to Silin Manufacturing Company, Boston,

Mass.

Application December 3, 1947, Serial No. 789,365

This invention relates to a sewing machine attachment for necktie stitching operations and especially necktie stitching operations in which a necktie lining is secured to an outer necktie fabric.

It is essential in carrying out such operations to have the stitching occur centrally of the necktie lining as otherwise it is impossible to obtain uniformity in the shape and appearance of the finished tie. For this type of work one machine has been developed with built-in guide mechanism consisting of converging arms. chine gives trouble in several respects. A chief diificulty is that the converging guides or similar structures so far proposed, are still located at This ma- 7 Claims. (Cl. 112-136) a considerable distance in front of the sewing machine and presserfoot, with the result that there is an opportunity for the fabrics to get out of register with respect to one another and hence uniformity in appearance of the finished tie is often impaired. Another problem is the difiiculty encountered by the sewing machine operator in observing the precise location of the lining over the necktie edges since the latter are completely covered up for a substantial distance in front of the sewing machine needle.

It is an object of the invention to deal with the problems indicated and to provide a sewing machine attachment which can readily be se cured to any standard sewing machine and which will effectively furnish a means of centering the necktie lining as it is stitched to a folded neck tie fabric. Another object is to provide a centering guide which is arranged very closely to the needle of a sewing machine so that irregularities or defects can be prevented to a very large extent. Still another object is a guide arrangement so chosen that the operator may have a clear, unobstructed view of the marginal edges of superimposed necktie fabric layers up until the lining member is actually about to be secured by the needle. These and various other objects and novel features of the invention will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view indicating fragmentarily a sewing machine needle, presser foot and work supporting table secured to which is the stitching guide arrangement of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the stitching guide shown in Fig. 1 as seen from the front;

Fig. 3 is a plan view diagrammatically indieating a folded necktie fabric to which has been attached a necktie lining member with a centrally disposed line of stitching;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View of the attachment viewed from an opposite side from thatshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan View of the ma- -chine and attachment structure taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail elevational view of the guide element;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary perspective View of necktie fabric and lining attached in accordance with the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the 1ine 8-8 of Fig. 5.

The general plan of the attachment of the invention is suggested in Fig. 1 and includes a frame and supporting structure which can be clamped to a conventional work supporting table of a standard type of sewing machine. The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of such a structure with one suitable type of clamping mechanism having been supplied. It is however intended that the invention should not necessarily be limited to the precise form set forth in the drawings but may be practiced in part or wholly with other mechanical attaching means, more particularly suited to specific modifications of standard sewing machine structures when so desired.

In the preferred form shown, numeral I0 refers to a work supporting table or plate of the type usually found in standard type sewing machines. Similarly a presser foot i2 and needle I i, common to these machines, have been shown suspended from a conventional machine mounting H5. The position of needle M, it is observed, has

been indicated as raised with respect to the work supportin table foot l2.

ll], as has also the presser As noted in Fig. l, a necktie fabric has been work which may, for example, consist of a plurality of rods or wire elements bent to form two spaced-apart sides 24 and a series of spacedapart curved ribs 26. This frame structure is pivotally supported by an arm 23 secured by a threaded screw 30 in an elongated slot 32. The arm 28 is carried by an upright 34 which forms a part of a base plate 36, more clearly shown in Fig. 8.

The base plate 36 is preferably secured to the work supporting table II] by means of a pair of spaced-apart clamps 38, which are tightened to the work supporting table by threaded members 40, bearing against the under side thereof. Slidably secured in the base plate 36 is a seam gauge element 42 presenting a vertical gauging surface 44, as is more clearly shown in Figs. 4, and 8. The gauge element is adjustably fixed by means of an adjustment screw 46, passing through an elongated slot 48 in the base plate 36, thus permitting the gauge element to be moved transversely across the work supporting table into any desired position.

Slidably fixed to the upright 34 of the base plate is an arm 50 which, as noted in Fig. 5, is fashioned at its forward end with a curved guide element 52. The guide element 52 extends forwardly to a point between the seam gauge 44 and the presser foot 12, occurring in a slightly raised position with respect to the work supporting table, as suggested in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. It will be observed that the curvature of the guide element 52 is so formed as topresent a convex surface 52a lying immediately adjacent the extremity of the presser foot l2; and on its inner surface 52!) presents a concave face. A further feature of this guide element 52 is an under surface 52c, also curved to provide a degree of concavity. The several curved surfaces 52a, 52b, and 520 all have a common central point falling approximately in the region indicated by the notch 54 appearing in Figs. 5 and 6.

Extending downwardly from the frame are two converging arms 58 which are joined together to form a relatively narrow end terminating at a point directly in back of the guide element 52, as can be seen in Figs. 1 and 4.. Preferably the narrow end is formed with a slight curvature. The arms and the relatively narrow end consti tute a necktie lining tension and the spacing of this tension extremity with respect to the guide 52 may be varied by swinging the arm 28 on the upright 34.

In using the stitching attachment of the invention, the first step is to determine the width of the margin to be left when the two layers of necktie fabric are stitched together. Relatively cheaper ties are customarily formed with extremely narrow marginal edges while the better grade ties are stitched to leave substantially wide marginal edges, thus to furnish greater body in the tie. When a desired margin has been fixed upon and the position of the needle above the layers of fabric determined, the stitching attachment is moved relative to the work supporting table into a position in which the index notch 54 on the curved guide falls into substantial alinement with the needle l4, as is for example suggested in Fig. 2. With the base (plate secured in this registered position, the seam gauge 42 is then moved transversely across the work supporting table until the gauging surface 44 comes into contact and alinement with the free edges of the necktie fabric. The seam gauge is then temporarily fastened in this desired position. Next the necktie lining is placed upon the folded necktie fabric with the forward end of the lining being brought into a position such that the needle fa'lls centrally of it, and the presser foot is lowered. The immediately adjacent portions of the lining are then passed under the guide element 52 and up against the curved under surface 520 between the guide and the lining tension 58 and then on upwardly along the concave supporting frame constituted by the wire elements 24 and 26.

In this position the lining is drawn forwardly as the needle starts from the stitching l9, and the necktie fabric is fed under the ipresser foot with the free edges maintained adjacent to the gauge face. As this occurs the lining member becomes automatically centered as it passes downwardly along the frame. At the passageway between the end of the lining tension and the inner surface of the curved guide, the lining starts to assume a curved shape in conformance with the shape of the inner surface of the guide; and as it does so, tends to slip into the deepest point of concavity in the inner face of the guide in response to the pull of the needle. Almost instantly the lining is warped downwardly and around the under surface of the guide which is also concaved. Here again the lining is drawn into the highest point of concavity which coincides with that of the inner surface, of the guide. These two actions operating in conjunction with the holding action of the lining holder automatically force the center of the lining into alinement with the notch as the lining moves along and no further hand guiding becomes necessary.

It will be observed that by maintaining a light tension on the lining as it is warped down under the guide element against the restraining action of the holder, there is no opportunity for bunching to occur and a smooth line of stitching is at all points carried out. It is further pointed out that by raising the lining abruptl along the frame as described, the operator may constantly observe the edges of the necktie fabric as they pass by the gauge and the lining does not cover up those portions necessary to be seen in order to maintain registration. The lining guide by its nature can be moved very closely to the needle and thus the diificulties above outlined are substantially eliminated.

I claim:

1. In a necktie stitching machine having a work supporting table and a presser foot mountedfor operation above the table, the combination of a frame for stitching a necktie lining to a necktie fabric, the frame including a holder ad ,justably secured to the table, a seam guide mounted in the holder in closely spaced relation to the presser foot, the seam guide being formed with a vertical guide surface for guiding folded edges of the necktie fabric along a desired path relative to the presser foot, a necktie lining guide supported on the holder and extending transversely between the presser foot and the seam guide, a necktie lining support mounted on the.

holder in a raised position above the seam guide in such relative position as to provide an unobstructed view of the necktie edges and the lining as they merge and pass under the lining guide,

and a tension element suspended from the frame and extending downwardly to a point between the lining guide and the seam guide.

2. In. a necktie stitching machine having a work supportingtable and a presser foot mounted for operation above the table, the combination of a holder member adjustably secured. to the table in front of the presser foot, a seam guide mounted on the holder presenting a vertical gaging surface for guiding folded-over edges of a necktie fabric, the vertical surface extending forwardly into close proximity to the presser foot, a necktie lining guide supported on the holder and extend=- ing transversely between the presser foot and the extremity of the seam guide, an elevated necktie lining frame for leading a necktie lining abruptly downwardly under the lining guide, and a tension element projecting downwardly from the frame to a point intermediate the back of the lining gage and the front extremity of the seam gage.

3. A claim corresponding to claim 2 in which the lining guide consists of an annular band whose under edge is concaved to provide two curved surfaces which intersect one another and form dual lining centering areas.

4. A claim corresponding to claim 2 in which the lining guide is formed with an inner concaved surface and a bottom concaved surface, the said two concaved surfaces intersecting one another with their greatest points of concavity coinciding and occurring in offset relation with respect to the extremity of the seam guide.

5. In a necktie stitching machine having a work supporting table and a presser foot mounted for operation above the table, the combination of a holder member adjustably secured to the table in front of the presser foot, a seam guide mounted on the holder and presenting a vertical gaging surface extending into close proximity to the presser foot, a necktie lining centering member supported on the holder and extending transversely between the presser foot and the extremity of the seam guide in a position to center a necktie lining in ofiset relation to the seam guide, and means for leading a necktie lining vertically downwardly under the lining guide thereby to provide for holding the lining away from the necktie fabric as they pass under the lining guide.

6. In a necktie stitching machine having a a guide, a necktie lining frame arranged above and in offset relation to the seam guide for leading a necktie lining abruptly downwardly under the lining guide, and a tension element projecting downwardly from the frame between the front extremity of the seam guide and the lining guide, thereby to hold the lining away from the necktie fabric as the latter member passes under the lining guide.

'7. In a necktie stitching machine having a work supporting table and a presser foot mounted above the table, the combination of a holder member adjustably secured to the table in front of the presser foot, a seam guide mounted on the holder and presenting a vertical gaging surface for guiding folded edges of a necktie fabric into close proximity to the presser foot, a necktie lining guide arranged between the presser foot and the front end of the vertical gaging surface, said guide for the necktie lining being formed with an inner concaved surface and a bottom concaved surface, the said surfaces intersecting one another with their greatest points of concavity coinciding, and occurring in offset relation with respect to the front extremity of the seam guide, and means for leading a necktie lining member around the concaved surfaces.

ALI J. FIUMEDORO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 152,662 Manning June 30, 1874 560,296 Levy May 19, 1896 1,093,540 Corson Apr. 14, 1914 2,241,264 Kucera May 6, 1941 2,359,333 Schifter Oct. 3, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6,769 Great Britain Aug. 29, 1912 253,664 Germany Nov. 13, 1912 103,010 Great Britain Jan. 11, 1917 

